Line indicating copy holder



A. L. SLEE 'LINE INDICATING COPY HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2v Filed NOV. 25, 1956 n 111111111111111 @311111111111111 mmm-ummm Patented May 31, 1938 UNITED STATES.

time@ PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in lineindicating copy holders wherein a pair of superimposed sheets, slidably connected for limited relative movement, operates in conjunction with a line indicator movably superimposed upon said sheets and provided with improved means for engaging said sheets to permit movement in one direction only, relatively to said sheets, whereby said indicator may be moved intermittently over said sheets and copy thereon, when said sheets are intermittently reciprocated, one upon the other.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved line-indicating copy holder.

Another object is to' provide a new and improved device of the character described which may be easily and economically constructed either from sheets of card or pasteboard, to provide an extremely cheap but practical device, or from thin sheets of metal or other suitable material or composition or metal, to provide a device having great utility, maximum eiciency and extreme ease of operation.

A further object is toprovide a new and improved line-indicating copy holder having many of the advantages and utilities of the more expensive devices now in use, but which may be producedat a greatly reduced cost and having 3o a greater ease of operation.

A still further object is to provide a new and improved line-indicating copy holder that will be less bulky and much lighter in weight, and one which may be readily folded iiat, so that the 35 same may be easily placed within a drawer or easily carried in a brief-case or the like or otherwise transported from one position or place to another, to promote a greater range of utility and a more universal use of copy holders.

40 A still further object is to provide a more economically produced and efficiently operated and improved construction than theconstruction set forth in my copending application, Serial Number 89,102; led July 6, 1936; for line-indicating copy holders, now matured into Patent No.

2,089,507, dated Aug. 10, 1937.

A still further object is to provide a new, im proved, and greatly simplified construction 5 whereby all of the metallic parts disclosed in said copending application and the cost of producing and assembling the same may be eliminated, and wherein a more durable, useful and efficient copy holder may be produced from four pieces of cardboard and a rubber band at a greatly reduced cost without sacricing any of the utility or advantages of said copy holder.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improved device disclosed in the drawings forming a part oi the present application, and in 5 which- Fig. 1 is a partly broken front elevation of my improved device;

Fig. 2 is a partly broken side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of 10 Fig. 1 in the direction indicated;

Fig. 4 is a broken plan view of the sheet engaging means; removed from said sheets;

Fig. 5 is a similar -view with said means engaging the sheets, and taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 15 in the direction indicated;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6--6 o Fig. l, in the direction indicated, disclosing another view of the manner in which saidengaging means engages the sheets and operates; 20

Fig. 'l is a broken rear elevation of one end of the line indicator;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the interlocking spacer member, taken `on line 8 8 of Fig. 1, in the direction indicated; and f Fig. 9 is a broken elevation disclosing the manner in which the sheet connecting tabs are formed.

Referring to the drawings:

The numeral I is used to designate what I term, for convenience, a base sheet, suitably cut, scored and folded to form a foot 2 and supports 3 and interlocked to form a support for maintaining said sheet I in a substantially erect or inclined position, to facilitate the reading of copy suppo-rted thereby. The support 4 is cut from the approximate center of said sheet I, leaving an opening 6, the purpose of which will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

The base sheet I is also provided with upper k .and lower vertically disposed vertical slits with lateral extensions to form struck up tabs 1, one of the lower tabs 1 having its upper end extending above its parallel'adjacent tab a distance equal to a double line space of a standard typewriter. The base sheet I is also provided with oppositely disposed upper and lower notches 8 on opposite side edges thereof which normally register with similar notches 9 in opposite edges of what I term a copy sheet I I, slightly wider than the base sheet I and slidably mounted for limited vertical movement on said base sheet I by means of tabs I2, also struck up, which register with and slidably engage the adjacent edges of the-slits forming the tabs 1 of the sheet I. The tabs I2 are short- 55 er than the tabs 1 an amount equal to the double line spacing of a standard typewriter so that said copy sheet II is superimposed and slidably connected by said tabs I2 for limited movement upon said base sheet I to that extent.

When the tabs I2 are bent backwardly at right angles to the back of the copy sheet and inserted through the slits formed by the tabs 1 on the sheet I and then released, the natural resiliency of the sheet material moves said tabs I2 to embrace the parallel adjacent edges of the slits of the tabs 1 while the same resiliency of said tabs 1 causes them to lightly press and hold said tabs I2 into slidable engaging relation with said edges or opposite sides of the bar or portion I2 between said tabs 1, as fully disclosed in Fig. 3 of the drawings, thereby providing an eifective sliding as well as a locking connection between the sheets I and I I, without other means than their own integrally formed tabs.

The tabs I2 are formed preferably by a cut midway and vertical between the folds or hinges thereof, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9 of the drawings. The cut forming the upper ends of the lower tabs I 2 is inclined to provide an inclined edge I4, one end of which is higher than the other end thereof by two standard typewriter line spaces, as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 9 of the drawings.

'Ihe copy sheet I I is also provided with a central and backwardly bent tab I6 extending through the opening 6 of the base sheet I provided by cutting the easel support 4 therefrom. An ordinary rubber band I1 extends from the top of said support to said tab I6 and the tension of said rubber band I1 operates to normally retain the copy sheet II in its uppermost position on the base sheet I with its side notches registering with the side notches of said base sheet.

A suitable shelf or ledge I8 is formed upon the lower end of the copy sheet II to vertically support copy I9 and also to serve as a bar for operating the device. Slits are also provided in the upper end of said copy sheet II to produce tabs 2I for holding the upper edges of copy I9 and for aligning the same laterally with respect to said copy sheet II.

A spacer 20 for regulating and limiting vertical movement of the copy sheet I I to either single or double spacing comprises a bar 22 slidably mounted within a trough 23 formed at the lower edge of the base sheet I. 'I'he spacer 20 has a tongue or struck up tab 24 which slidably engages a horizontal slot 26 in the lower end of the base sheet I and also has an extension 21 provided with a double fold upon itself to produce a fork 28 for straddling or embracing the inclined edge I4 of the copy sheet II and also containing a stop 29 with an inclined end 30 arranged parallel to and a single standard typewriter space away from said inclined edge I4 while the opposite or bottom edge 3| of said double fold engages the opposite edge 35 of the aperture formed by bending back the lower tabs I2 and inserting the same through the slits of the adjacent tabs 1, as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The tab 24 sliding within its slot 26 adjusts and limits the amount of movement of the spacer 20 from single to double spacing, in a manner hereinaftepjmore fully set forth.

An indicator 34 comprises a single sheet superimposed -upon the lcopy sheet II and provided with depending guides 36 at opposite ends thereof for slidably engaging opposite side edges of the superimposed sheets I and II to normally retain said indicator 34 in transverse or horizontal alignment with copy lines on the copy I9.

'I'he indicator 34 is also provided with rearwardly extending portions 38 held in such position by braces 39 formed integrally with said indicator directly back of and attached to the guides 36. The portions 38 are arranged at opposite ends of the indicator 34 and each is provided with a slit 4I arranged substantially parallel to the planes of the sheets I and II and providing integrally formed tabs 42 and 43 for embracing the front and rear or remote surfaces of said sheets, as disclosed in Figs. 2, 5, and 6 of the drawings. The rear tab 42 is shorter than the front tab or detent 43 so that said rear tab may be readily inserted into proper engaging relation with said sheets by the front tab operating as a stop, said front tab 43 being longer than the depth of said notches 8 and 9.

These integrally formed tabs 42 and 43 operate the indicator 34 by engaging remote or opposite surfaces of the sheets I and I I in the same manner as described, illustrated and claimed for the detents of my copending application above referred to. 'I'hus these tabs are in effect and operation pawls, detents or engaging tabs integrally formed with the indicator itself, to prevent movement of the indicator 34 in one direction and to move said indicator with a moved sheet, thereby effecting a saving of cost and labor in producing separate detents or tabs as well as the cost and labor of properly positioning and assembling the same on saidindicator. Actual experience has demonstrated that these tabs are a further improvement over the pointed metal detents as they do not scratch or mar the surfaces of the sheets, when formed of cardboard, but frictionally and very effectively engage said sheets when reciprocated one on the other, for moving said indicator with said moved sheet.

Each slit 4I is preferably provided with a transverse extension or slit 44 which serves two purposes. Firstly, it provides a slightly greater resiliency for the front tab 43, thereby permitvting it to more readily engage and release its sheet II when the same is` reciprocated, and, secondly, it engages the side edges of the slightly wider copy sheet II without engaging the edges of the base sheet I and thereby assists the front tab in the performance of its function and also limits movement of the indicator 34 laterally upon the copy sheet II and thereby acts as a guide above and in conjunction with the guides 36, for constantly retaining horizontal alignment of said indicator as it traverses lines of copy on the copy sheet II.

The upper edge of the indicator 34 is provided with a beveled edge 46 having a standard typewriter scale 41 thereon, said beveled edge 46 being formed integrally with said indicator 34 by scoring and bending the said edge backwardly beyond the plane of said indicator 34. This provides a direct guide lying close to the surface of the copy so that the line being copied may be rendered more conspicuous by its proximity to the' upper edge of said indicator instead of in spaced relation to the back thereof.

In operation:

Copy I9 is placed with its lower edge resting upon the shelf or ledge I8 of the copy sheet I i and effectively held in position by the indicator 34 or, the upper corners of said copy I9 may be inserted under the tabs 2| to align said copy I9 laterally with the copy sheet II and with the typewriter scale 41.

arranca The indicator 3ft is placed at the upper end of said copy sheet li and copy it thereon and the shorter tabs l2 are then inserted through the oppcsitely positioned upper registering notches t and Si, the longer tabs i3 operating as stops to properly position said indicator with respect to the superimposed sheets l and il. The indicator is then moved downwardly until the tabs t2 and i3 embrace the back and front surfaces oi the said sheets i and il respectively, directly below said registering notches, as disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, and the upper edge of the bevel it rests below the iirst line to be copied.

After the rst line is copied the indicator 3ft and bevel it thereof are moved below the next line to be copied by pressing downwardly upon the shelf i8 which moves the copy sheet li, against the tension of the rubber band l'l, downwardly until the inclined edge it on said sheet l l contacts the inclined end (it of the stop 29. As said indicator moves downwardly the front tabs d3, operating as pawls or detents, embrace and bind against the front surface of the copy sheet li and said indicator ill is moved downwardly an equal distance with said sheet Ill, the rear tabs l2 substantially releasing their frictional engagement with the rear surface of the base sheet l as said indicator is lowered. When the copy sheet i l is released it is instantly returned to its original or upper position by the tension of the rubber band Il and during such return movement the rear tabs i2 frictionally engage and bind against the rear surface of the base sheet Il to prevent a return movement of the said indicator while the front tabs or detents iii substantially release their engaging relation with the front surface of the copy sheet to permit the same to be quickly and easily returned to its original or upper position. Repeated operation of the above will intermittently move the indicator to the bottom of the copy sheet when the tabs l2 and i3 will register with the notches t and 9 and the engaging relation of said tabs with their respective sheets will be automatically released. The indicator 3d then may be easily removed from the device by moving the rear tabs [l2 of said bar 3d forwardly through the lower registering notches 8 and 9 of the base sheet l and copy sheet il, respectively.

After a page of copy has been copied it may be turned back over the top of the sheets i and i l, as disclosed in the upper right hand corner of Fig. 2 of the drawings, or said sheets, if loose, may be removed from the holder. The indicator is then repositioned as above described and the operation above described, maybe repeated.

When the spacer 20 is positioned at its cxtreme left, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.d the distance between the inclined edge It of the copy sheet ll and the inclined end 30 of the stop 29 is equal to a single typewriter line space. Therefore, when said copy sheet il has moved downwardly a distance equal to a single space it is stopped by contact of said inclined edge i4 with said inclined end 30. 1f the spacer 2li is moved to the opposite or extreme rlghthand position the inclined end 3@ will be two spaces removed from said inclined edge and therefore the sheet il may be moved a double space before the inclined edge iii thereof encounters said inclined end til.

It is obvious, from the foregoing, that I have provided a greatly simplied and improved structure having practical utility and emciency and one which may be economically produced and easily operated, the amount of energy required to intermittently lower the indicator being slightly more or greater than that of the rubber band tension.

Having described my invention I claim- 1. A copy holder comprising a base sheet; a copy sheet slidably superimposed on said base sheet; and a line indicator mounted upon said sheets and having a slit in each end portion thereof for embracing said sheets, the opposite edges of said slits forming sheet engaging tabs for normally preventing movement of said indicator on said sheets and for engaging one of said sheets, when moved upon the other, for moving said indicator with said moved sheet.

2. A copy holder comprising a pair of superimposed sheets slidably connected; and a line indicator mounted on said sheets and having slits, the opposite edges of said slits embracing opposite sides of said sheets to normally hold said indicator against movement on said sheets and to engage one sheet, when moved upon the other, to move said indicator with said moved sheet.

3. A copy holder comprising a pair of superimposed sheets slidably connected for limited relative movement; and a line indicator slidably mounted upon said sheets and having slits therein for embracing opposite sides of said sheets for normally preventing movement of said indicator on said sheets and for engaging one sheet, when moved in one direction upon the other, for moving said indicator with said moved sheet and for substantially releasing said moved sheet and; engaging said other sheet when said moved sheet is returned to original position, whereby said indicator may be moved intermittently over one of said sheets when either sheet is reciprocated upon the other.

4. A copy holder comprising a pair of superimposed sheets slidably connected for limited relative movement; a line indicator slidably mounted upon said sheets and having integrally formed tabs for embracing opposite sides of said sheets for normally preventing movement of said indicator on said sheets and for engaging one sheet, when moved relatively tothe other, for moving said indicator with said moved sheet and for substantially releasing said moved sheet and engaging said other sheet when said moved sheet is returned to original position, whereby said indicator may be moved intermittently over one of said sheets when either sheet is reciprocated upon the other; and guiding means formed integrally with said indicator for slidably engaging opposite sides of said superimposed sheets to hold said indicator in substantially correct alignment with lines of copy on said holder.

Y ARTHUR L. SLEE. 

